Dry cell.



WK FL CLYIVHHs BRY CELL. APPucATmN FMD DEC'. 9, 1912.

l gj' @a Patented 1%, NMS.

TTORNEY 'bil To all Awhom t 'may concer/lr Be it known that l., 'Wimmer a. citizen of the United States, residing at Cleveland, in the coi J of Cuyahoga und State of Ohio, have invented a certain ,new and useful Improvement in Dry Cells, of which the following is a full, clear, and act description.

My invention relates to dry cells and the object is to increase the amount oi: electro lyte solution in the cell by thoroughly inipregnating the mix with.

Dry cells are usually made ruining powderedgraphite and amorphous carbon with a sniall amount of electrolyte soluti l usually zinc chlorid and annuoniuni clilorid. This mit; is then taniped in a paper lined zine can around the carbon electrode. the mix has more than a small amount of electrolyte it cannot be tainped solidly ano since a Well-tamped mix is necessary to produce a goed cell7 it therefore follows that there is a limited amount oi electrolyte that can be` mixed in with the other ingredients before they are taniped.

The electrolyte must dilluse through the liningg of the cell to the zinc in order to become active. There is therefore not so inucli of the solution reaching the lining and Zine as Would be desired.

lif the lining oi the cell is inoistened with Water or solution before the niin is placed therein, a considerable part of' the liquid lis absorbed by the mix. This drying out of the lining is objectionable as it increases the internal resistance of tlie'cell.

It will thus be apparent that an increase inthe electrolyte content would be very desirable, but the amount that can be added to the untamped mix cannot be increased for the reason previously given. The solution7 however, will not penetrate to any extent into the mix if it is poured on top of it unless it is allowed to stand for a long tir.

My invention overcomes the foregoing diiieulties by providing method for quickly impregnating the tainped mix with the solution.

Y and the cell The inethml and apparatus for carrying it out rill new be described in detail.

Referring to the drawings: Figure l is a side view of an apparatus i'or carrying out the method. Fig. 2 is a sectional'vieiv taken on the line 'AHA of Fig. l. Fig. 3 is a viev of another forni of lid to be used with the apparatus of Fig. l. Fig. 4e is a view of apparatus for inipregnating a inodiied formi of battery. y

ln` n'iy `process dry cells may be inode in tl' usual method till the nii); is tainped in the zinc can. In order to increase the amount of electrolyte solution in the ini; and other parts oi the cell, l pour solution on top or *he niix, there being ample roeni 'for it at the top of the unsealed cell. The cell is then placed in seine receptacle so that the can be exhausted from the mix; 'lhiis bubbles up through the solution on top of it and after a suiiicient vacuum is produced the air is readmitted to the cell. i The' solution is thus `,forced down into the interstices in the cell by the pressure above it'. In seine cases it is advantageous to apply more than'atmospheric pressure to the colli' after the air has been exhausted.

The method covers the ideaJ of using pres-` sure to force theeleotrolyte into the cell, and this can be done by applying Vpressure to the Irell w" out first exhausting the air. This method would not be so satisfactory( becnuse when the pressure is restored to the: atmospheric condition, the solution will be part-ly forced out from the mix. However, part of @Elie solution would remain tlierein.,l

ivould be more e'licient than one constructed by the old methods.

ess just described. The cell is then removed from the vacuum chamber, additional solution added and again subjected to the vacuum process. be desired may be taken in order to force solution into the cell, but I have found that the ,required amount of impregnation can be obtained by two treatments, substantially half of the solution being added each time. Another way of overcoming this occasional defect is to exhaust the air first and then admit the solution to the top of the cell. The solution is then Jforced into the mix by admitting pressure as previously described. This may be accomplished in several ways, a typical one being illustrated in the drawings. A receptacle 1 may be constructed of wood, steel or any other material so as to be substantially air tight. The receptacle lmay be made in the shape of a steel box with the joints welded together in a well known way. The lid 2 is removable and makes a smooth fit with the top of the box. To prevent air from entering, the top edges may vhave a gasket 3. Pieces 4 may be secured to the lid 2 to support the sides 5 when the air is exhausted from the interior. Handles 6 permit of easy removal of the top when pressure is readmitted.

The air isexhausted through pipe 7 and pressure is admitted through pipe 8. Valves 9 and 10 control the passages through the pipes 7 and 8.

A series of tanks 11 contain the electrolyte, being preferably constructed of glass and having graduations 12 thereon. The solution is led through the pipes 13 to the interior of the box l, each pipe having a flexible connection lll as shown in Fig. 2. Valves 15 control the passage of solution through the pipes.

To carry out the process the mix is tamped or placed in the can in the usual way, The cells are then put inside the receptacle 1. This may be advantageously done by means of a removable box 16. The lid 2 is replaced and the air exhausted through the pipe 7, valve 10 being closed and valve 9 being open.y llfhen a sufficient vacuum is obtained the operator opens each valve 15 to admit the solution to the top of the cells through the flexible connections 14. As soon as sufficient solution has been admitted the valves are closed. This may be gaged by noting the height of the solution in the tanks. The scale on each tank is preferably proportioned so that the fluid between two adjacent markings is the required amount.

When fluid has been admitted to all the cells, the pressure is admitted through pipe 8, valve 10 being open and valve 9 closed. The top 2 is then taken olf and the box of cells removed.

As many treatments as may`- In most cases it will be suflicient tov exhaust the air only once, but if it is desired, to completely saturate-the mix the process may be repeated several times for each group of cells, admitting a smallamount of solution each time the air is exhausted till the mix is saturated.

In order to enable the operator to see if f zinc can. Sometimes Hour paste is first placed in the can. This type of cell part is illustrated in U. S. Patents Nos. 808,755 and 809,647. In Fig. 4 I have shown how such cell parts may be impregnated with solution.

Theymay be placed in a tank 18 containing sufficient solution to cover them. The air is then exhausted and readmitted to force the solution into the mix. Afterward the parts are placed in the zinc cans as described.

The amount or" electrolyte in the cells may be increased as much as 50% by my process and hence the depolarizing properties and life of the cells is greatlyincreased.

Having described my :invention what I claim is:

A1. The steps in the process of making dry cells, which consists in compressing a mix,

adding electrolyte to the mix and placing the compressed mix and electrolyte lunder increased pressure to force the electrolyte into the mix.

2. The process of impregnating a dry cell with electrolyte which consists in exhausting the air from' the cell and then introducing electrolyte therein. 1

3. The process of impregnating the mix of a dry cell which consists in exhausting the air therefrom through the open end of the cell, and forcing the electrolyte through said end into the mix by readmitting pressure thereto.

Ll. The steps in the process 'of making dry cells which consists in compressing a moistmix withdrawing the air therefrom, adding additional electrolyte solution and forcing it into the mix by re-admitting the air thereto.

5. The steps in the process of making dry cells which consists in placing a cell containing the mix and negative electrode in a chamber, exhausting the air therefrom, putting the electrolyte solution on top of the mix, and readmitting' the air to force the' solution into the mix.v

6. The process of making dry cells which :onsists in putting the negative electrode in the container, tamping the mix around it,

placing the cell under reduced' pressure,

adding the electrolyte thereto and increas- 5 ing the pressure to force it into the cell.

. The process of making dry cellswhich consists in putting the negative electrode in the container, tamping a'moist mix around it, placing the cell'under reduced pressure vto exhaust the inclcsed air, adding addi- 1o In testimony whereof, l hereunto ciiiz my WILLEAM R. GLYEJER. Witnesses:

W. N. Heuss, H. G. GRovEB,

' signature. 

